More Support for Nova Scotians to Quit Smoking

HEALTH PROMOTION -More Support for Nova Scotians to Quit Smoking

Nova Scotians will now have two more resources to help them make the decision to quit smoking. Today, March 15, the Office of Health Promotion launched a Sick of Smoke workplace program and unveiled an updated anti-smoking website, www.sickofsmoke.com . The workplace program and website are two components of the comprehensive Tobacco Control Strategy.

"We are committed to our strategy to help Nova Scotians live healthier, smoke-free lives," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "This workplace program and the new website are two additional pieces of the overall strategy that will help raise awareness of the help that is available to quit smoking so we can continue the downward trend of smoking in this province."

The workplace program will help employers throughout Nova Scotia make their workplace a smoke-free environment and improve local business. Smoking costs the Nova Scotian economy $396 million annually in productivity losses due to premature death and absenteeism. Unscheduled smoke breaks costs Nova Scotia employers $208 million a year in lost wages. If Nova Scotians reduced their unscheduled smoke breaks by half, they would contribute $6.2 million worth of productive hours per year to the economy.

The program outlines how small steps by employers can result in huge benefits. It suggests presenting facts about smoking and offering resources and programs to support employees who would like to stop smoking. Local tobacco control co-ordinators will promote the workplace program and supports its implementation within their communities.

Valerie Payne is president of the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce. She said that the Sick of Smoke Workplace Program is a simple, effective document that can help chamber members and all businesses begin down the road towards healthy employees and a healthy bottom line.

"The chamber is pleased to see the province taking such a positive step in the fight against smoking in Nova Scotian workplaces," said Ms. Payne. "For the last three years the chamber has worked to raise awareness about the benefits - both from a health and monetary perspective - that wellness in the workplace will bring to our members."

While the workplace program targets Nova Scotia businesses, an updated anti-smoking website also reaches out to the province's youth. In addition to information on the tobacco industry and the hazards of smoking, sickofsmoke.com now includes an online newsletter, a bulletin board that allows people to share thoughts and opinions on smoking, e-cards to send to others and the new anti-smoking television ads now airing across the province.

"The Internet is a great medium for reaching our target audience -- young adults," said Nancy Hoddinott, tobacco strategy manager. "The information on sickofsmoke.com is helping Nova Scotia's youth make informed decisions about smoking by presenting them with hard facts."

In addition to the workplace program and expanded website, the public awareness campaign also includes a number of other initiatives -- television ads, print ads, and a high school program -- that will help ensure the tobacco reduction message reaches communities across the province.

"It's the combination of messages delivered through various forms that will give Nova Scotians the information they need to decide to quit smoking," said Ms. Hoddinott.

Nova Scotia's Tobacco Control Strategy, introduced in October 2001, is a seven-part plan that focuses on legislation and policy, tobacco pricing and taxation, treatment and cessation, monitoring and evaluation, community initiatives, school-based programs and public awareness.